Arsenal defeat Athletic Bilbao with second-half goals

Arsenal defeat Athletic Bilbao 2-0 as Martinelli and Trossard score second-half goals in a hard-fought contest

The first half unfolded as a tactical stalemate. Arsenal dominated possession, moving the ball patiently in search of openings, but found themselves repeatedly denied by Bilbao’s compact defensive unit.

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The Spanish side, renowned for its physical style and disciplined organisation, frustrated Mikel Arteta’s men and even threatened on the counterattack.

The breakthrough came early in the second half when Martinelli latched onto a clever pass inside the box and finished clinically past the Bilbao goalkeeper.

The goal lifted Arsenal’s tempo and stretched the visitors’ defensive shape.

As Bilbao pressed higher in search of an equaliser, spaces opened up for the hosts. Trossard capitalised with a precise strike midway through the half, doubling Arsenal’s advantage and putting the game beyond reach.

Despite Bilbao’s late attempts to rally, Arsenal’s back line held firm, ensuring a clean sheet and three valuable points.

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The result highlighted Arsenal’s patience and resilience, eventually overcoming Bilbao’s stubborn resistance with quality in the final third.

Quadri Olaitan